Display devices



Nov. 15, 1966 c. H. NERVIG ETAL 3,285,425

DISPLAY DEVICES Filed Jan. 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Char/es Nerv/ g BY George Theodore 1 4 i ATTORNEYS Nov. 15, 1966 Filed Jan. 5, 1965 c- H. NERVIG ETAL DISPLAY DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, Char/es H- Nervg! Georgie Theodore United States Patent 3,285,425 DISPLAY DEVICES Charles H. Nervig, North Olmsted, and George Theodore,

Parma, Ohio, assignors to American Greetings Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Jan. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 423,512 9 Claims. (Cl. 211-59) This invention relates to display devices and particularly to display devices for use in connection with the displaying and merchandising of relatively small, packaged articles having an apertured hanger element for threading or telescoping over an elongated rodlike suport. p The invention has for its primary object the provision of display devices of the aforesaid nature which are characterized by their structural simplicity, their inexpensive manufacturing costs, the attractive forms in which they may be made, and the particularly effective manner in which they perform their function.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide display devices of the above type which may be used as auxiliary display means with a conventional display device such as, for example, a greeting card display cabinet.

A further object of this invention is to provide display devices for mounting to a greeting card cabinet or the like for the purpose of displaying and storing small packets of cards or envelopes which are packaged and provided with apertured hanger elements for mounting upon a generally horizontal, rodlike support.

Still another object of the invention is to provide display devices as set forth above each of which is formed of a single piece of relatively heavy wire stock and adapted to provide a horizontal support portion disposed above or below a sign holder or lighting fixture disposed above a greeting card cabinet or the like.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a support bracket which is readily attachable to the back of a sign holder or light fixture to which a wire support portion may be readily and easily attached.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide display devices having the above features and characteristics wherein the wire support elements are formed at one end with a simple, integral snap attachment for readily mounting them to or removing them from the support bracket.

Further objects of the .present invention, and a number of its advantages, will be referred to in or will be evident from the following description of five embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 of the drawings comprises a side view of the upper portion of a greeting card display cabinet having a light fixture (shown in broken line) with the display devices of this invention mounted thereto.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective of the mounting bracket and connector portions of the wire support elements.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an upper wire support element.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lower wire support element,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified mounting bracket in connection with a nonilluminated sign holder.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the mounting bracket of FIG. 2 as applied to another type of nonilluminated sign holder.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of still another form of mounting bracket and a further modified form of nonilluminated sign holder.

FIG. 8 is a perspective View of yet another form of 'ice nonilluminated sign holder harving mounting bracket means integral therewith.

Before the display devices illustrated are specifically described, it is to 'be understood that the invention here involved is not limited to the exact structural details or precise arrangement of parts shown since display devices embodying the present invention may take various forms.

It is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein employed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation since the scope of the present invention is denoted by the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 designates a greeting card display cabinet of a conventional type for displaying, in tiered fashion, a plurality of different greeting cards 11 or the like. The display cabinet 10 may be of any suitable width and is provided with an illuminated sign or lighting fixture 12 which extends substantially all the way across the width of said cabinet and is disposed above the upper edge of the cabinet by suitable extension arms 13 connected to the back of the cabinet adjacent the sides thereof. It will be understood that this arrangement of greeting card cabinet and lighting fixture is given by way of illustration only and that the display device of the present invention are readily applicable to a great variety of merchandising devices inclukiing those for displaying other than greeting cards or the like.

The back of the lighting fixture 12 carries achannelshaped mounting bracket 20 which is spot welded or otherwise suitably secured to said lighting fixture. Said mounting bracket has a central web 21, disposed in a vertical plane and connected fiatwise against the back of the lighting fixture 12, and a pair of upper and lower, horizontally rearwardly directed flange 22a and 22b respectively. The mounting bracket 20 carries an upwardly projecting, upper support element 23 and a downwardly projecting, lower support element 24. The support elements 23 and 24 are adapted tocarry small packets 25 and 26, respectively, containing greeting cards, envelopes, stationary or the like for display and merchandising purposes. The packets 25 and 26 are provided with upwardly projecting, apertured, flat hanger portions .27 and 28, respectively, whereby the packets may be hung from the support elements 23 and 24.

The support elements 23 and 24 and the mount-ing bracket 20 are shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2-4 and will now be more specifically described. j

The flanges 22a and 22b of the mounting bracket 20 are provided with uniformly spaced, elongated, rectangular slots 29a and 2912, respectively, which said slots are disposed parallel with the longitudinal dimension of said mounting bracket. Said mounting bracket preferably extends substantially completely across the back of the lighting fixture 12 whereby the support elements 23 and 24 maybe disposed at a plurality of lateral positions above and below said lighting fixture and just above the display cabinet 10.

FIG. 3 shows in detail one of the upper support elements 23 which said upper support element comprises a single piece of heavy wire stock material formed to provide, basically, an upright portion 30 and a generally horizontal, forwardly projecting support portion 31. The upright portion 30 and the support portion 31 are jointed by an inverted U portion 32, and the distal end of the support portion 31 is provided with an upwardly and forwardly obliquely angled end portion 31a. The lower end of the upright portion 30 is provided with a laterally directed, U-shaped connector portion 34 which includes a free leg portion 35 extending upwardly a distance greater than the distance between the flanges 22a and 22b of the mounting bracket 20. Adjacent to the distal end of thefree leg portion 35, the wire stock is offset inwardly of the -U-shaped connector portion to provide, in effect, a laterally open notch 36. The free leg portion 35 preferably diverges slightly from the upright portion 30 in an upward direction'with the lower end of the connector portion 44 being of such lateral width as to slide freely but snugly into the slots 29a and 29b of the flanges 22a and 22b respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the upper support element 23 is attached to the mounting bracket 20 by inserting the connector por- .tion 34 downwardly through a pair of the slots 29a and 29b. -The slots 29a and 29b are arranged in vertically aligned pairs whereby with said connector portion inserted in such aligned pairs, the upright portion 30 will be substantially vertically disposed. Insertion of the connector portion into the slots slightly compresses the free leg portion 35 inwardly until the notch 36 is disposed at the level of an upper slot 29a at which point said free leg portion snaps outwardly with an edge of said slot 29a engaging said notch 36. The upper support element 23 is thus firmly held against vertical movement in either an upward or downward direction, and the support portion 31 is disposed substantially above the lighting fixture 12 and projects forwardly above said lighting fixture. I

The lower support element 24 comprises a forwardly open, U-shaped portion 40 having parallel, forwardly projecting upper and lower arms 41 and 42 connected at their rearwardly directed ends by a generally vertically disposed crossover portion 43. The lower arm 42 extends forwardly a greater distance than the upper arm 41 and has an upturned end portion 42a. Said arm 42 constitutes the support portion of the lower support element corresponding to the support portion 31 of. the upper support element 23. The distal end of the upper arm 41 carries an inverted connector portion 44 which is similar to the connector portion 34, said connector portion 44 having an upright portion 45 and a downwardly slightly diverging, laterally directed free leg portion 46 formed to provide a laterally open notch 47.

As clearly shown inFIG. 2, the lower support element 24 is connected to the mounting bracket 20 in substantially the same manner as the upper support element with the exception that-the connector portion 44 is inserted upwardly through a pair of aligned slots 29a and 2% with the notch 47 engaging the edge of a lower slot 29b. As Well shown in FIG. 1, the support portion 42 is disposed well under the light fixture 12, above the display cabinet 10 and between the extension arms 13.

The modifications of FIGS. 5-8 refer primarily to the mounting bracket either in relation to the form it may take or its use. It will be understood that in eachof these modified forms and applications of said mounting bracket, support elements of the type shown in FIGS. 3 and '4 are used therewith.

In FIG. 5, there is shown a nonilluminated sign holder 50 comprising an elongated extrusion which may be made of any suitable material such as aluminum or one of the well-known rigid plastics. The extrusion is provided with a flat, vertically disposed body portion 51 having inwardly turned upper and lower flanges 52 and 53 at its upper and lower edges, respectively, which said flanges afford upper and lower channels 54 and 55 at the front face of said body portion. The back of said body portionis similarly provided with upper and lower flanges 56 and 57 which aflord similar upper and lower channels 58 and 59 at the back of said body portion. The front -face of the body portion 51 is further provided with a T- shaped forward projection 60 affording an upwardly open channel 61 and a downwardly open channel 62. Signs display cards 63 and 64 may be inserted endwise thin the 'pairs of channels 54-61 and 62-55 respectively 'dvertising the brand name of the merchandise being displayed or for providing further pertinent information to the buyer.

The pair of rearwardly disposed channels 58 and 59 cooperatively receive a mounting bracket 65 having a vertically disposed web 66, horizontally forwardly projecting, upper and lower flanges 67a and 67b, and upwardly and downwardly projecting mounting flanges 68a and 68b carried respectively at the edges of said flanges 67a and 67b. The mounting bracket 65 is attached to the back of the extrusion by inserting the edges of the -mounting flanges 68a and 68b into the rearwardly disposed channels 58 and 59 respectively. The horizontal flanges 67a and 67b are provided with elongated, rectangular slots 69a and 69b for receiving the connector portions 34 and 44 of the support elements 23 and 24 respectively in the manner hereinabove described.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the extension arms, indicated at 70, may comprise elongated channel members carrying hat-shaped mounting members 71 at their upper ends, each of which said members 71 has a vertical web 72, horizontal flanges 73a and 73b, and vertical flanges 74a and 74b. The flanges 74a and 74b are adapted to be inserted within the channels 58 and 59, respectively, for retaining the nonilluminated sign holder 50 in position above a greeting card cabinet or the like.

FIG. 6 illustrates a mounting bracket 20 of the type illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 secured to a nonilluminated sign holder 80. The sign holder comprises an extrusion having a flat body portion 81 which said body portion carries an integral, T-shaped projection 82 at its forward face. Said projection 82 is disposed intermediate the upper end lower edges of the body portion 81 and affords upwardly and downwardly open channels 83 and 84 respectively.

The body portion 81 is carried by an elongated, preferably sheet metal backing strip 85 having upper and lower rolled edges 86 and 87 respectively. The mounting bracket 20 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the back of the strip 85, and signs or display cards 88 and 89 (shown in broken line) are mounted with their lower and upper edges within the channels 83 and 84, respectively, and with their upper and lower edges disposed within the rolled edges 86 and 87, respectively.

FIG. 7 shows a sign holder 90 similar to that shown in FIG. 5 comprising a flat body portion 91 having flanges 92 and 93 affording channels 94 and 95, respectively, on one side of the holder and flanges 96 and 97 affording channels 98 and 99, respectively, on the other side of the sign holder. The body portion 91 of the sign holder 90 differs from the body portion 51 of the sign holder 50 in that it is provided with T-shaped projections on both its front and rear surfaces as shown at 100 and 101, said projections affording channels 102-103 and 104-105, respectively. It will be readily seen that with this construction, signs or display cards as shown in broken line at 106 and 107 may be inserted on either side of the body portion 91.

The sign holder 90 is provided with a mounting bracket 110 formed from a strip of sheet metal having a central Web 111 and upper and lower flanges 112a and 112b which are of double thickness, the metal being bent rearwardly at right angles from the web 111 and then folded back upon itself in a forward direction. The forwardly extending folds extend forwardly beyond the web 111 and their edges carry upwardly and downwardly projecting mounting flanges 113a and 113b, respectively, which are disposed within the channels 98 and 99. The body portion 91 of the sign holder 90 is, of course, reversible whereby the flanges 113a and 113b can be disposed within the channels 94 and 95 and the signs 106 and 107 can be disposed within the channels 98-104 and 99. The flanges 112a and 112b are provided with elongated, rectangular slots 114a and 11% for receiving the connector portions of the support elements 23 and 24, and the endmost aligned pair of said slots may be used,

if desired, as means for receiving extension arms as shown in broken line at 115.

FIG. 8 shows a sign holder 120 which, again, is in the form of an extrusion having a flat body portion 121 and reversely turned flanges 122 and 123 affording upper and lower channels 124 and 125, respectively, on the forward face of said body portion. The forward face also carries a T-shaped projection 126 of the type shown at 60 (FIG. 5), 82 (FIG. 6), 100, and 101 (FIG. 7). The projection 126 affords channels 127 and 128 for carrying signs or display cards of the type shown at 63, 64, 88, 89, 106 and 107.

Integral with the body portion 121 are horizontally disposed, rearwardly projecting, upper and lower flanges 129a and 12% which are provided with suitable elongated rectangular slots 130a and 130b, respectively, for receiving the connector portions of the support elements 23 and 24. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the flanges 129a and 12% are further provided with larger, elongated slots 131a and 131b adapted to receive channel-shaped extension arms as shown in broken line at 132. It will be noted that the slots 131a and 131b extend forwardly to the rear face of the body portion 121 whereby an extension arm 132 can be disposed with its web flatwise against said rear surface.

It will be understood that the various forms of the mounting bracket as shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 may be used in connection with the light fixture 12 by providing the back of said light fixture with a channeled surface as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 or with integral flanges as shown in FIG. 8. It will further be understood that many other changes in the details of the invention as herein described and illustrated may be made without, however, departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A display device for mounting to the rear surface of a sign holder or the like which has an upper side and a lower side, said device comprising means defining a pair of vertically spaced, horizontally disposed, rearwardly directed flanges; means defining pairs of vertically aligned, elongated slots through said flanges, said slots being parallel with the rear surface of said sign holder; a support element formed from a continuous length of heavy wire stock; said support element having a generally horizontally disposed support portion, disposed beyond one of said sides of said sign holder and projecting forwardly with respect thereto, for receiving hanger elements of articles to be displayed; a connector portion adapted to be inserted through and closely interfit a pair of said aligned slots; said connector portion being bent into U-shape in a plane disposed parallel with said slots and having an outwardly biased, free leg biased against an inner end edge of one of said slots; and said free leg having a notch formed therein engaging said end edge in use of said connector portion.

2. A display device for mounting to the rear surface of a horizontally disposed sign holder or the like, said device comprising a channel-shaped mounting bracket having a web adapted to be secured flatwise against said rear surface and also having rearwardly projecting, horizontally disposed, upper and lower flanges; means defining pairs of vertically aligned, elongated slots through said flanges, said slots being parallel with the rear surface of said sign holder; a support element formed from a continuous length of heavy wire stock; said support element having an upright portion and a generally horizontally disposed support portion; said support portion disposed above said sign holder and projecting forwardly with respect thereto for receiving hanger elements of articles to be displayed; the lower end of said upright portion being bent into a U-shape to provide a connector portion adapted to be inserted .through and closely interfit a pair of said aligned slots; said connector portion being disposed in a plane parallel with said slots and having an outwardly biased, free leg biased against an inner end edge of one of said slots; and said free leg having a notch formed therein engaging said end edge in use of said connector portion.

3. A display device comprising a holder carrying a pair of vertically spaced, horizontally disposed, rearwardly directed flanges; means defining pairs of vertically aligned, elongated slots through said flanges; a support element formed from a continuous length of heavy wire stock; said support element having a generally horizontally disposed support portion for receiving hanger elements of articles to be displayed, said support portion being disposed below said holder and being directed forwardly with respect thereto; said support element having a connector portion adapted to be inserted upwardly through and closely interfit a pair of said aligned slots; said connector portion being bent into a U-shape and having an outwardly biased, free leg biased against an inner edge of one of said slots; said free leg having a notch formed therein engaging said edge in use of said connector portion; said support element being bent rearwardly and downwardly below said connector portion and then forwardly again to form said support portion whereby at least a portion of said support portion is offset rearwardly with respect to said holder.

4. Display means comprising a holder carrying a pair of vertically spaced, horizontally disposed, rearwardly directed flanges; means defining at least two pairs of vertically aligned, elongated slots through said flanges; a pair of support elements each formed from a continuous length of heavy wire stock; a first of said support elements having an upright portion and a generally horizontally disposed support portion for receiving hanger elements of articles to be displayed, said support portion being disposed above said holder and being directed forwardly with respect thereto; a second of said support elements having a rearwardly projecting, horizontal portion, a downwardly bent crossover portion, and a forwardly directed, horizontally disposed support portion, said support portion of said second support element being disposed below said holder; each said support element having a vertically directed connector portion adapted to be inserted vertically through and closely interfit one of said pairs of aligned slots; each said connector portion being bent into a U- shape and having an outwardly biased, free leg biased against an inner edge of one of said slots; each said free leg having a notch formed therein engaging one of said inner edges in use of each said connector portion; the connector portion of said first support element disposed at the lower end of said upright portion and passing downwardly through its said pair of aligned slots; the connector portion of said second support element being inverted and disposed at the forward end of said horizontal portion and passing upwardly through its said pair of aligned slots.

5. A display device comprising a generally upright sign holder having a front face and a rear face; said holder having means for retaining a sign on said front face; means providing a pair of vertically spaced, horizontally disposed flanges projecting outwardly from said rear face; means defining at least one pair of vertically aligned slots in said flanges; a continuous wire support element having a horizontal support portion disposed beyond said holder in one vertical direction; said support element having means for connecting said support portion to said flanges including a U-shaped connector portion for inserting through said pair of aligned apertures; said connector port1on having a free leg biased outwardly against an edge of one of said slots and being notched to engage said edge to releasably retain said support element attached to said holder.

6. A display device as set forth in claim 5; said holder comprising a substantially flat body portion having mutually facing, upper and lower channel means on both said faces; said means providing said flanges comprising a hat-shaped member formed from flat, sheet material haviug a central web, horizontal flanges at its upper and lower edges, and upwardly and downwardly directed mounting flanges at the edges of said first mentioned flanges, said mounting flanges interfitting said channel means of said rear face; said channel means on said front face adapted to receive the edges of display signs.

7. A display device as set forth in claim said holder comprising a substantially flat body portion; a backing strip of sheet material disposed flatwise against the rear surface of said body portion with its upper and lower edges rolled over said body portion and affording inwardly opening channel means at said upper and lower edges for receiving edges of display signs; said means providing said flanges comprising a horizontally disposed channel member mounted to the rear surface of said backing strip with its flanges projecting rearwardly.

8. A display device as set forth in claim 5; said holder comprising a substantially flat body portion having mutually facing, cooperant channel means on both said faces; said means providing said flanges comprising a strip of sheet material haping a flat central web and being folded rearwardly and then forwardly back on itself at the upper and lower edges of said web to provide doublethickness, rearwardly projecting flanges; the forwardly directed edges of said strip being turned upwardly and References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 973,090 10/1910 Weaver 211106 1,359,370 12/1912 Hayward -2 211-59 1,372,205 3/ 1921 Smith 2481 2,684,226 7/1954 Sundell et al. 248294 2,770,898 11/1956 Lutz et al. -10 2,850,820 9/1958 Lersch 40--l0 2,926,824 3/1960 St. Clair 223 3,162,965 12/1964 Snediker 40-10 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

5. A DISPLAY DEVICE COMPRISING A GENERALLY UPRIGHT SIGN HOLDER HAVING A FRONT FACE AND A REAR FACE; SAID HOLDER HAVING MEANS FOR RETAINING A SIGN ON SAID FRONT FACE; MEANS PROVIDING A PAIR OF VERTICALLY SPACED, HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED FLANGES PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID REAR FACE; MEANS DEFINING AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF VERTICALLY ALIGNED SLOTS IN SAID FLANGES; A CONTINUOUS WIRE SUPPORT ELEMENT HAVING A HORIZONTALLY SUPPORT PORTION DISPOSED BEYOND SAID HOLDER IN ONE VERTICAL DIRECTION; SAID SUPPORT ELEMENT HAVING MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID SUPPORT PORTION TO SAID FLANGES INCLUDING A U-SHAPED CONNECTOR PORTION FOR INSERTING THROUGH SAID PAIR OF ALIGNED APERTURES; AND CONNECTOR PORTION HAVING A FREE LEG BIASED OUTWARDLY AGAINST AN EDGE OF ONE OF SAID SLOTS AND BEING NOTCHED TO ENGAGE SAID EDGE TO RELEASABLY RETAIN SAID SUPPORT ELEMENT ATTACHED TO SAID HOLDER. 